ウェンブドンでののおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

Best time when less dog walkers.

Bell very useful here

Bridgwater hasn't got its name for no reason. This thriving town has both the River Parrett and the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal winding through its heart. The canal is particularly lovely, with vibrant banks, old brick bridges and peaceful vistas. At only 14.5 miles (23.3 km) long, the canal links Bridgwater to Taunton and you can walk the entirety. This portion in Bridgwater makes for a lovely stroll and is part of the Samaritans Way South West footpath.

‘Clyce’ or ‘clyse’ is a regional word for sluice and you’ll find many if you walk along the River Parrett. The Somerset Levels is reclaimed land and barely above sea level, resulting in a sprawling wetland area. The water management of the Levels has been going for hundreds, if not thousands of years and sluices are an important part of controlling the run-off from the rivers. Many of the clyces you’ll find have been in place for a considerable amount of time and are a fascinating part of the local history. New ones are still built today.

While the River Parrett is tidal all the way up to Oath, further inland, Dunball is the first point at which mudflats are particularly evident. When the tide is low, the mud here is filled with birds, hunting around for snacks. Dunball is also a working dockyard, the last on the River Parrett. It’s evidence of this river’s industrial past and the docks can be clearly seen from the River Parrett Trail on the southern bank.

The termination of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, Bridgwater Docks is a floating harbour. In its heyday in the 1800s, it saw thousands of vessels a year. The construction had been done under a mortgage and the company, unable to keep up with payments, sold the canal and docks to a railway company instead. The docks were last used for commercial activity in 1971 and are now operated by council. It’s a pretty area to walk around and you’ll see plenty of narrowboats in the marina.

The Chandos Glass Cone was built by James Brydges, an affluent landowner and politician in 1728 as a kiln for glassworks. Glassmaking was done at the kiln only until 1734, when it was transformed into a pottery kiln, making bricks and tiles. In 1939, the kiln was used for the last time before. Originally 33 meters (108 feet) high, now only a few feet of its base are visible. It was destroyed in 1943. Today, the kiln is listed as an ancient monument.